Universal joint or coupling for shafting, &amp;c.



PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

E. G. HOFFMANN. UNIVERSAL JOINT OR COUPLING FOR SHAFTING, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5. 1903.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

NO'MODEL.

W/f/VESSES.

PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

E. G. HOFFMANN. UNIVERSAL JOINT OR COUPLING FOR SHAFTING, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.NO MODEL.

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. w/rmssszs. 24mm;

UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ERNST GUSTAV HOFFMANN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

UNIVERSAL dOlNT OFt COUPLING FOR SHAF'TING, 80G- SPECIFICATION forrningpart of Letters Patent No. 771,637, dated October 4, 1904.

Application filed October 5, 1903. Serial No. 175,736. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it puny concern.-

. Be it known that I, ERNST GUST-Av Horr- MANN, a subject of His Majestythe German Emperor, residing at London, England, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Universal Joints or Couplings for Shaftingand the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to universal joints or couplings for connectingshafting and other parts with the purpose of allowing the usualvariation in alinement, the object in view be ing to provide a universaljoint in which ballbearings may be employed which is of a simpleconstruction, is easily assembled and taken apart, and in which thebearing parts are car. ried as far as possible outside of the centralline of the two connected parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a coupling inits complete form. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the central part orcross-piece with the bosses of the coupling in section, taken on a lineat right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the coupling with one capremoved and illustrating the method of assembling or disuniting theparts, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section through one of the caps whichinclose the bearings,

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the coupling comprisestwo yoke-pieces 1 and 2, which may be identical in construction, placedat right angles to each other, and carrying on their ends bosses 3 and4:, respectively. The said bosses are open, and into the openingsproject journals 5, formed on the ends of the arms 6 of a central orcross piece 7, which may be formed by stamping and suitably machining.The openings'in the bosses 3 and 4 are of such size that the ends of thearms of the center piece which form the journals can pass clear throughsame, whereby the center piece 7can be placed in position be tween thebosses by suitably tilting it, as shown in Fig. 3. The outside openings8 of the bosses are adapted to be closed by caps 9, which are held inplace by means of keys 10 or by any other suitable means, flexible feltor other suitable washers 11 encircling the said journals serving toclose the inside openings 12 to exclude dust.

Theballs 13, which form the bearings for the coupling, are preferablyheld in position in a cage 14, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and areinserted between the journals 5 of the center piece 7 and the innerwalls 15 of the cap, which closes the outside openings of the bosses.The journals, which form the cone portion of the bearings, are providedwith grooves 17, forming a race for the balls, and the inner walls 15 ofthe cap, which form the cup portion, with a plain cylindrical surface,as shown, forming the other race. here other forms of caps or othermeans are used to close the outer openings of the bosses, the balls maybe held between the journals and the inside walls of the boss itself,such part, whichever it may be, having upon it an end shoulder 16,forming a continuation of the cylindrical surface 15 to keep the partsin lateral position.

The balls 13 are placed into position in the journals 5, with their cageas shown in Fig. 3, and in this position are sufficiently attached tothe journals to enable them to be inserted in position by passing onearm of the cross- .piece into the corresponding opening in the bossuntil it can be brought into line with and inserted into the cap-coveredopening of the boss on the opposite side, after which the cap of thefirst opening is placed in position. It will be seen that it is thecylindrical surface 15 of the caps and the absence of any grooved tracktherein that enables the movement above described to take place. Thecenter piece can be disconnected by simply withdrawing one of the caps,thus allowing the journal in that boss to be passed into the outsideopening, with the result that the journal on the opposite arm will bewithdrawn through the inside opening clear of its boss in the oppositemanner to that employed for inserting it. It will be understood thatwhere I employ this term boss I include any equivalent projection orpart carried by a yoke-piece or equivalent holding device, disk, orpart.

What I claim is 1 1. In a universal joint, and in combination, fourbosses, means for carrying said bosses in pairs at right angles to eachother, a connecting part located centrally of said bosses, op-

positely-arranged journals carried on extremities of said connectingpart and balls between said journals and the bosses.

2. In a universal joint, the combination with four similar bosses,suitable yoke pieces carrying same, a connecting part located centrallyof said yoke-pieces, oppositely-arranged j ournals carried onextremities of said connecting part and balls between the said journalsand the bosses.

8. In a universal joint, and in combination, two yoke-pieces placedatrightangles to each other, the ends of said yoke-pieces havingopenings in same, a central connecting-piece, journals carried by saidpiece within the said openings and balls connecting the journals withsaid 'yokepieces.

I. In a universal joint, and in combination, four bosses having openingsin same, means for carrying said bosses in pairs at right angles to eachother, a central piece, portions of which form journals situate withinsaid openings, balls interposed between said journals and inner walls ofsaid openings, and means for retaining the balls and central piece inposition.

5. In a universal joint, and in combination four bosses, means forcarrying said bosses in pairs at right angles to each other, a centralcross-piece the arms of which form journals at the ends situate withinsaid openings, balls interposed between said journaled ends and innerwalls of said openings, and cages carrying said balls whereby the latterare held to the journals when the parts are being connect 35 ed orseparated.

6. In a universal joint and in combination four bosses having openingsvin same, means for carrying said bosses in pairs at right angles to eachother, a central cross-piece the 4 7 arms 01 which form journals at theends situate within sa1d openings, means for closing said openings, andballs lnterposed between said journaled ends and the inner walls ofsaid"closing means. 45

arms of which form journals at the ends and 5 situate within saidopenings, capsclosing said openin s having a cylindrical bearing-surfaceand balls interposed between said journaled ends and the bearing-surfaceof said cap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 55 my hand in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ERNST GUSTAV HOFFMANN.

I/Vitncsses:

ALLEN PARRY Jones, A. KNIGHT OROAD.

